Nike Davies-Okundaye

Nike Davies-Okundaye is a Nigerian textile artist known for her work with Adire, batik, indigo dyeing, embroidery, and textile-based compositions. She founded Nike Art Gallery and, according to institutional records, established the Nike Centre for Art and Culture in Osogbo in 1983.

Star Mover ranking

Not ranked in Entertainment yet

0 points

Sign in to Move Up

Profile

About Nike Davies-Okundaye

Profile information current to 2026-08-23.

Nigeria · Textile artist, Painter · 1 affiliation

Show full profile Hide full profile

Also known as: Nike Okundaye, Mama Nike, Chief Nike Okundaye-Davies
Known for: Adire textile practice; Batik and indigo dyeing; Art training and Nigerian cultural preservation
Country: Nigeria

Textile artist
Painter

At a glance

Davies-Okundaye's artistic practice encompasses Adire, batik, indigo dyeing, embroidery, painting, and textile-based compositions.
She is the founder of Nike Art Gallery.
Institutional records state that she founded the Nike Centre for Art and Culture in Osogbo in 1983.
Her works are held by the Museum of Modern Art and Princeton University Art Museum.
Rhodes University recognized her with an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts in 2019.

Background and artistic training

Davies-Okundaye was born in 1951 in Ogidi, Nigeria, and has been active in Lagos and Òṣogbo. Museum and organizational accounts describe her textile education as rooted in family and intergenerational instruction, including the transmission of Adire-related techniques.

Textile practice

Her practice is associated particularly with Adire and also includes batik, indigo dyeing, embroidery, painting, and textile-based compositions. Princeton University Art Museum holds her 1977 work Arókọ (series 2), a cotton-and-indigo-dye textile made from Adire remnants and acquired by the museum in 2022.

Art institutions and cultural training

Davies-Okundaye founded Nike Art Gallery and, according to Nike Art Gallery and Rhodes University, established the Nike Centre for Art and Culture in Osogbo in 1983. These institutions are associated with art training and the preservation of Nigerian cultural practices, although organization-controlled sources use differing definitions and counts for the wider network of galleries and centers.

Collections and recognition

The Museum of Modern Art's artist record includes The Palm Wine Tapper and Ayo Game (1969–70), which its 2023 acquisitions document lists as acquired by purchase. Princeton University Art Museum holds Arókọ (series 2), while the Hood Museum of Art presented The Creative Journey of Nike Davies-Okundaye in connection with her Dartmouth College residency. Rhodes University named her a recipient of an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts in 2019.

Affiliations

Nike Art Gallery Founder present

Timeline

1951 Born in 1951; Princeton University Art Museum identifies Ogidi, Nigeria, as her birthplace.
1977 Created Arókọ (series 2), a textile made from Adire remnants and now held by Princeton University Art Museum.
1983 Founded the Nike Centre for Art and Culture in Osogbo, according to institutional records.
2002-11-16 The Hood Museum of Art opened The Creative Journey of Nike Davies-Okundaye, an exhibition connected to her Dartmouth College residency.
2019-04 Rhodes University recognized Chief Nike Okundaye-Davies as a recipient of an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts.
2022-10 Princeton University Art Museum acquired Arókọ (series 2) from the artist collection via kó gallery.

Additional verified details

Current context

Nike Art Gallery's website describes galleries or locations in Lagos, Abuja, Osogbo, the United States, and Olumo Rock in Abeokuta. This is an organization-controlled description. Nike Art Foundation separately describes four Nigerian art-and-culture centers, which may reflect a different count or definition of Nike-branded entities.

Biographical facts

Davies-Okundaye was born in 1951. Princeton University Art Museum identifies her birthplace as Ogidi, Nigeria, and identifies Lagos and Òṣogbo as places where she has been active.
Museum and organization materials state that she learned traditional textile practices through family and intergenerational instruction, including Adire-related techniques.
Nike Art Gallery states that Davies-Okundaye founded the Nike Centre for Art and Culture in Osogbo in 1983; Rhodes University likewise describes the center as established in 1983.
The Museum of Modern Art's online artist record includes Davies-Okundaye's The Palm Wine Tapper and Ayo Game (1969–70), and its 2023 acquisitions document lists the work as acquired by purchase.
Princeton University Art Museum holds Davies-Okundaye's Arókọ (series 2) (1977), a cotton-and-indigo-dye textile acquired by the museum in October 2022.
Rhodes University named Chief Nike Okundaye-Davies a 2019 honorary-doctorate recipient for a Doctor of Fine Arts honoris causa.